Old Penang

In 1786, Penang was part of the Muslim state of Kedah. Following the arrival of English trader Francis Light, it underwent both a change of name, to Prince of Wales Island, and status, becoming a major mercantile and shipping post, and the springboard for British expansion into South-East Asia. Illustrated throughout with contemporary paintings and drawings, this volume traces Penang's history from the 18th century to the 1930s, and fully captures its natural beauty and cosmopolitan atmosphere.